• Source:JND
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The death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has led to intense debates and discussions on Dart Frog Toxins, which were allegedly used to kill him. In a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, it was stated that the Russian politician was poisoned by a lethal and rare toxin which is found on the skin of these frogs. 

“We know the Russian state now used this lethal toxin to target Navalny in fear of his opposition," the UK’s Foreign Office said in a statement.

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What Are Dart Frogs?

A dart frog refers to a group of small, brightly coloured, highly toxic frogs belonging to the family Dendrobatidae. They are native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. The name Dart Frog comes from the traditional practice of certain Indigenous communities, especially in Colombia, who used toxins from some of these frogs to poison their darts during hunting. 

According to scientists, the toxins found in these small frogs are some of the most powerful natural poisons found in the animal kingdom. 

ALSO READ: Alexei Navalny, Who Galvanised Opposition To Putin, Laid To Rest After His Death In Prison

How Does The Poison Work?

According to a report published by the Environmental Literacy Council, the toxin used by the dart frogs is called batrachotoxin. The poison is a potent chemical that disrupts the communication channels between the nervous system and the muscles. 

Usually, nerves work by opening and closing tiny channels that control electrical signals in the body. However, batrachotoxin forces these channels to remain open, triggering a continuous flow of sodium ions into cells. This severe disruption can lead to paralysis, irregular heart rhythms and, in extreme cases, heart failure.

According to a research paper in the journal ScienceDirect, batrachotoxin is one of the most deadly poisons in the animal kingdom. Besides these tropical frogs, research in 1992 has shown that the feathers and skin of birds of the genus Pitohui living in New Guinea also have similar batrachotoxin chemical compounds. According to the study, these toxins could represent a defence mechanism used by the birds to evade predators. 

ALSO READ: Russia Killed Oppn Leader Alexey Navalny Using 'Dart Frog Poison': UK, 4 Other Nations

Where Do These Toxins Originate?

These frogs do not make the toxins themselves, but through the diet that they feed upon, like ants, beetles and mites that contain harmful chemicals. Overtime these food habits lead to a chemical mutation which appears on their skin, and thus they get their peculiar skin colours. Scientists have found that frogs that are bred in captivity never become poisonous because of the diet. 


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